Northwestern University Athletics
Camp Kenosha: Day Four
8/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2003
KENOSHA, Wis. - Under a cloud-covered sky, the Northwestern football team completed the first of two practice sessions today at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The 'Cats took advantage of the cooler weather and practiced with a noticeable bounce in their step.
One player Wildcat fans are excited about seeing any kind of bounce in his step is senior linebacker Pat Durr. Durr, who tore essentially every ligament in his right knee on the sixth play of the year last season, is almost 100 percent healthy and will give the NU defense an automatic boost when ever he is on the field. NUsports.com caught up with Durr after the morning practice to discuss his health, his outlook for the season, and how great it will feel playing again when the 'Cats take on Kansas on August 30 in Lawrence.
NUsports.com: How is your knee coming along?
Durr: "I feel good. The coaches have been watching me carefully and the trainers have taken great care of me to get me back to this point. They've been monitoring my soreness and my pain but I would say that I'm about 95 percent right now. I was talking with Coach (Pat Fitzgerald) and he was saying how far of schedule I am with wiping off all of the dust from not playing for a year. I'm ready to go."
NUsports.com: How has the defense improved throughout the course of last spring and camp thus far?
Durr: "The biggest change for us has been attitude. We have a totally different attitude this season. We've been coming hard off the ball and playing very physical. We're just flying to the football. We're having fun out there. Also, guys really know what they are doing this year. Guys have gotten into their playbooks and a lot of the stuff we worked on last spring has really carried over with stuff like blitzes and coverages."
NUsports.com: What is your favorite part about Camp Kenosha?
Durr: "The food. These people (UW-Parkside Food Services) can cook, man. It's Camp Kenosha; we're kind of in the middle of nowhere. All you really see is trees and football fields, but it's great because of the camaraderie with the guys. We come here to have a good time and play football and that is what we are doing. But yeah, the food is unbelievable."
NUsports.com: Describe what it is going to feel like coming out of the locker room on August 30 to play against Kansas.
Durr: "It is going to be emotional, there's no doubt. After not playing for so long, I have a lot of pent-up frustration, especially with a lot of what happened last year. I just hope I don't get too excited because I could hyperventilate. But I really can't wait; I've been waiting a long time for this."
